David Smallwood

David Smallwood is an Associate Professor and Honorary Principal Fellow in the Department of Medical Education at the University of Melbourne's Melbourne Medical School, within the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. Holding qualifications including MBBS from the University of Melbourne (graduated circa 1991), FRACP, PhD, and GradCertClinTeach, he has practiced as a Respiratory and General Physician for over 30 years. His career spans leadership roles across major metropolitan health services, including Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Director of Physician Education at Western Health, Director of Medical Education at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, and Director of General Medicine at Austin Hospital. Smallwood served as the lead for clinical assessment in the University of Melbourne Doctor of Medicine program for 15 years and chairs the Clinical Assessment Review Panel in the Department of Medical Education. He has contributed to national committees such as accreditation panels for the Australian Medical Council, the Advisory Committee for Prescription Medicines at the Therapeutic Goods Administration, and as chair of the Royal Australian College of Physicians Continuing Professional Development Committee.

Smallwood's academic interests center on medical education, particularly clinical assessment methods, including Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs), diagnostic reasoning, and addressing medical error through growth mindset approaches. Key publications include 'Fully online OSCEs: A large cohort case study' (2020, with Anna Ryan et al.), 'Assessing Diagnostic Reasoning Using a Standardized Case-Based Discussion' (2019, with Ruth M Sutherland et al.), 'Taking OSCE examiner training on the road: reaching the masses' (2016, with Katharine Reid et al.), and 'Benefit of targeted, pharmacist-led education for junior doctors in reducing prescription writing errors – a controlled trial' (2018, with Danny Liew et al.). In respiratory medicine, notable works encompass 'High-flow nasal oxygen therapy compared with conventional-oxygen therapy in adult patients with COVID-19' (2024) and 'Neural correlates of cough hypersensitivity in humans' (2016). His efforts emphasize high-quality patient care, patient safety, and robust clinical governance. Smallwood is completing a Masters in Health Leadership and Management and Royal Australian College of Medical Administrators training.